23 Dec Early Battle for Supremacy belongs to Puchong United BC

Puchong United BC’s impressive run continues as they humiliated fellow SS Purple League (SSPL) 2017/18 title hopefuls, Petaling BC 13-3 during their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road today.

Petaling BC went into the game with some notable absentees in mainstays such as Kenichi Tago and men’s doubles specialist, Goh V Shem who got married earlier today.

Puchong United BC’s Ong Yew Sin attempts to return a shot to his opponent while his mixed doubles partner, Lee Hyo Jung looks on during their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 match against Petaling BC at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road earlier today.

Puchong United BC stamped their authority on the game as they won the first four matches with ease. First, it was Liew Daren who won his match 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-8) against Petaling BC’s Tan Chun Seang followed by Aya Ohori’s trashing of her Petaling BC opponent, Hera Desiana Rachmawati in straight sets (11-6, 11-9, 11-8).

Then it was Teo Ee Yi and Lim Khim Wah who routed Petaling BC’s young pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-10) in the the men’s doubles match. In the mixed doubles match, Lee Hyo Jung and Ong Yew Sin – both making their first appearance in this season’s SSPL – comprehensively beat Petaling BC’s Chen Tang Jie and Devi Tika Permatasari 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-9).

Petaling BC secured a consolation win in the end as Iskandar Zulkarnain defeated Puchong United BC’s Wei Nan 3-1 in the last match of the night.

“I am happy with my first SSPL 2017/18 performance tonight and more so that it is also my first time playing Lim Khim Wah. I do think that our team has overwhelming potential and talent to win the SSPL this season,” said Puchong United BC’s Teo Ee Yi.

“With tonight’s win – our third in a row – I can see that our coaches and players are growing in confidence and extra motivated to qualify for the Grand Finals and ultimately win this season’s SSPL,” added Teo.

Earlier in the day, Cheras BC put behind their poor showing in the last two matches to record a slim 12-11 win over fellow strugglers, Bangsar Hawks BC during their SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 match at the Sports Arena Sentosa, Old Klang Road.

The Hawks got off to a good start after winning the first men’s singles match. Their Chinese import, Zhang Song Ye – making his SSPL 2017/18 debut – edged Cheras BC’s Chong Yee Han 3-2 (11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11, 5-4).

Another SSPL 2017/18 debutant and Chinese international, Shen Yabing registered another 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 8-7) win for Bangsar Hawks BC as she beat Cheras BC’s Grace Chua Hui Zhen in a tight encounter.

But Cheras BC came roaring back to level the overall score at 7-7 after the third match of the tie. Their pair of Amirsyazwan Al-Razi and Mohd Arif Ab Latif were magnificent on the day to defeat Bangsar Hawks BC’s Yap Qar Siong and Dede Ryan Philip 3-1 (11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-10) in the men’s doubles match.

Tan Wei Han and Hendra Gunawan’s 3-2 (6-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9) win over Bangsar Hawks BC’s Cheng Yu Chieh and Hiripong Sathorn would gift Cheras BC a one-point lead heading into the final match of the game.

Cheras BC’s Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi then sealed the win for his team as he held Bangsar Hawks BC’s Zulhelmi Zulkiffli to a 2-2 (11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 10-11) draw in the last men’s singles match.

“It was indeed our target to win here today against Bangsar Hawks BC. Credit has to go to our new men’s doubles pair who has been contributing well to the team, so is our mixed doubles pair as Tan Wei Han soldiered on despite carrying a knock. I’d admit that our team isn’t at its strongest at the moment but this is what we have in our disposal,” said Cheras BC’s head coach, Nova Armada.

“We play Serdang BC next and I hope we can pick up another win there. We did not set any targets for this team but we would definitely like to qualify for the Grand Finals as one of the top six teams,” added Nova.

SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Results (23/12/2017)
(8pm) Petaling BC lost to Puchong United BC 3-13
MS2: Tan Chun Seang lost to Liew Daren 0-3 (9-11, 6-11, 8-11)
WS: Hera Desiana Rachmawati lost to Aya Ohori 0-3 (6-11, 9-11, 8-11)
MD: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik lost to Lim Khim Wah-Teo Ee Yi 0-3 (6-11, 9-11, 10-11)
XD: Chen Tang Jie-Devi Tika Permatasari lost to Lee Hyo Jung-Ong Yew Sin 0-3 (8-11, 7-11, 9-11)
MS1: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin bt Wei Nan 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 2-11)

(4pm) Bangsar Hawks BC lost to Cheras BC 11-12
MS2: Zhang Song Ye bt Chong Yee Han 3-2 (11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 4-11, 5-4)
WS: Shen Yabing bt 3-2 Grace Chua Hui Zhen 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 8-7)
MD: Dede Ryan Philip-Yap Qar Siong lost to Amirsyazwan Al-Razi-Mohd Arif Ab Latif 1-3 (5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 10-11)
XD: Cheng Yu Chieh-Hiripong Sathorn lost to Hendra Aprida Gunawan-Tan Wei Han 2-3 (11-6, 2-11, 11-8, 5-11, 9-11)
MS1: Zulhelmi Zulkiffli drew with Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi 2-2 (6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 11-10)

SSPL 2017/18 Phase 1 Fixtures (26/12/2017)
(4pm) Bangsar Hawks BC vs Petaling Jaya BC
(8pm) Ampang Jaya BC vs Petaling BC